Lensak



(No Model.)

' J. F. MEHREN.

} TRAP-LOOK. I No. 372,923. Patent-ed Nov. 8, 1887.

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' UN TED STATES.

PATENT Grinch.

JACOB F. MEHREN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO JOHN F. WOL- LENSAK,OF SAME PLACE.

' TRAP-=LOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 372,923, dated November8, 1887.

Application filed April .21, 1887. Serial No. 235,608. (No model.)

To all whom ib may concern.-

Be it known that I, JACOB F. MEHR'EN, of Chicago, in the county of (lookand State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and'usefulImprovement in Trap-Locks, of which the following is a specification. V

Heretofore the trap-locks that have been practically used on the orpolice alarm boxes have been adapted to be opened only by onekeyviz.,th'at furnished to citizenswhich is trapped and held by. thelock, and is disen gaged by a key in the possession of a representativeof the police or fire department, which latter key, however,is-notitself capable of operating the lock.

The object of my invention is to provide a third key by which the boxcan be opened without trapping the key. This key will be in the hands ofmembers of the police or fire department, and will enable them to openthe box at any time without trapping the key and without the necessityof also using the master or releasing key.

In general my invention consists in such a relative construction of thethird key and the operative parts of the trap-lock that the lock can beopened by such key without its being trapped. The invention isapplicable. to the various kinds of trap-locks, and the constructionwill of course be varied to meet the con ditions of the particularcharacter of traplock to which the invention may be applied.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the application of the invention tothe more usual form of trap-lock; but it will be understood that myinvention is not limited to the details of construction.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of the parts of the lock whenthe bolt is thrown to lock the alarmbox; Fig. 2, a similar view showingthe bolt withdrawn, the citizens key trapped thereby, and therelea'sekey in position; Fig. 3, a section of the tumblers as raised byeither key foroperating the lock;

' Fig. 4, a side view of the bit end of the third key; Fig. 5, a similarView of the same key from the other side, and Fig. 6 an end view of thiskey.

The shell A. of the lock contains the usual spring-bolt,]3,and thetumblers O. The tumblers' have lugs a 1), adapted to engage witha stud,c, on the bolt. The tumblers also have. the usual curved surface, d,withwhich the bit of the citizens key D engages to raise such tumblers andwithdraw the bolt, and a slot, 6, which engages the bit of the key D andtraps it in the lock at the same time that the bolt is kept withdrawn,as shown in Fig. 2. The usual master or release key,E,en gages the tailse of the tumblers and raises them so as to release the bit of the key Dfrom the slot e and permit the spring f to throw the bolt. This movementof the bolt turns the key D,

releasing it from the slot e, and it can then be removed from the lock.

The key F has a bit similar to that of the key D, so that the tumblerscan be raised by it and the bolt withdrawn; but the bit of this key F isprovided with a lateral extension or wing, g, which is wider than thetrappingslot c in the tumblers, so that the bit cannot enter that slotand be trapped thereby.

The key F-will raise the tumblers and withdraw the bolt like the key D;but the tumblers. will not drop upon the bit of the key when the slot 6is reached, and hence the key F will not be trapped. The key F is usedin the same key-hole as the key D, the key-hole being of course formedto admit the wing 9; but it is evident that the key F may be made to actupon the tumblers through another key-hole and at a different point fromthe keyD, in which case no wing on the bit of the key would be required,as will be well understood.

It is not intended to claim herein the particular construction shown inthe application filed by John F. \Vollensak for Letters Patent fortrap-latch locks March 5, 1887, having Serial No. 229,775.

Vhat I claim is 1. In a trap-lock, the combination,with the tumblers andbolt thereof, of means for trapping the ordinary key, and another keyconstructed to operate the lock without trapping, substantially as setforth.

2. In a trap-lock, the combination,with the tumblers and bolt thereof,the tumblers being provided with a slot engaging the bit of the its bitwider than said slot a, substantially as ordinary key and trapping thesame, of a key set forth. 0 constructed to raise the tumblers and with-This specification signed and witnessed this draw the bolt withoutengagement with said 18th day of April, 1887. 5 trapping-slot,substantially as set forth. JACOB F. MEHREN.

3. In a trap-1oek,the eo1nbinati0n,with bolt \Vitnesses: B and tumblersO, the latter having a trap- J. J SWENIE, ping-sl0t,-c, of a key, F,having a wing, g, on C. F. STRUBBE.

